Metropolis (Slaves to the City) - Chapter Two

[Phoenix]

"We know they're encroaching on the Red Lamp from their usual haunts. I figure our best bet, then, is to head toward The Apartments from the Red Lamp. That way we'll only have to deal with the smaller expansion parties. We either nab a natural straggler, or we do a little distracting to encourage a straggler. Then it's off to the Delphi district for our translator."

He hoped he sounded more confident than he felt, which was to say not at all--with a touch of nausea for good measure.

[sblock]Track check (DC 14) +18 - Success[/sblock]

The walk through the Red Lamp district towards The Apartments was not one to be taken lightly, but Ru's group consisted of the type of men that usually other people were wary of. Minutes turned into hours as Ru searched through the streets, asking questions, following leads, and finally, following paths of destruction.

The twins were silent about the need for their equipment, simply noting that when the time came then it would all be painfully obvious. They were always too clever for themselves.

The dwarves were not hard to find once the group was in the right area, in fact three seperate groups were discovered quite easily. They stuck together in packs of at least a dozen, and descretion told Ru to move on to find a smaller group.

As the sun dropped behind the spires, finally a small group of five of the cannabal dwarves made their way from an abandoned building down the street from Ru's group. Staggering out for their evening meals, they would most likely set out to find others of their kinds first.

 

[jkason]

[sblock]Track check (DC 14) +18 - Success[/sblock]

The walk through the Red Lamp district towards The Apartments was not one to be taken lightly, but Ru's group consisted of the type of men that usually other people were wary of. Minutes turned into hours as Ru searched through the streets, asking questions, following leads, and finally, following paths of destruction.

The twins were silent about the need for their equipment, simply noting that when the time came then it would all be painfully obvious. They were always too clever for themselves.

The dwarves were not hard to find once the group was in the right area, in fact three seperate groups were discovered quite easily. They stuck together in packs of at least a dozen, and descretion told Ru to move on to find a smaller group.

As the sun dropped behind the spires, finally a small group of five of the cannabal dwarves made their way from an abandoned building down the street from Ru's group. Staggering out for their evening meals, they would most likely set out to find others of their kinds first.

Looks like this is as good as it gets, Ru thinks, and starts signaling the men to take their positions. The twins he sends around behind the group, as they're much more effective when they can sneak up on a body; hopefully they can either kill or disable some of the party before a call to alarm. As Twilit and Daan melt into the alley shadows, the half-ogres take positions on either side of the street, heavy crossbows ready. At Twilit's bird trill signal, they'll both try to take the lead dwarf down at range. Ru stations himself near Scrab, and has his own quarterstaff ready for when the time comes to charge.

The idea is to whittle the group down to a more manageable two dwarves, then disable at least one (either through the twins' drugs or Ru's own unarmed skills). As the grumble of dwarves makes its way closer, Ru's body tenses for what's to come. Gods, he hopes this works.

 

[Fenris]

Zsath looks calmly at the charging Jovik, his eyes uncaring as the sword bares down upon him, as if the blade could not possibly harm him. He does not even move an inch as the sword slashes madly across his throat, spraying blood all across the Jackal's ethereal form.

But the look in his eyes changes quickly.

Grasping at his throat, Zsath falls to his knees with a look of horror on his face. He tries to talk, tries to say something, but all that comes to his lips is a bubbling crimson liquid. Standing over the crowned man, seconds pass as Jovik watches the man's life slowly slip away. As Zsath collapses, his body begins to fade, disappearing completely and leaving Jovik completely alone...

Jovik, slumped to the floor, confused, alone and gory. The blood that came out was hot and red. Jovik tasted some on his finger, if this Zsath was other than a man, he had a man's blood. Jovik, knelt there looking at the man bleed to death, without t athough tin his mind, as if the days events were too much and this death was all he could focus on. Death had always stalked him, from the hunger of his infancy to the abuse of his childhood to the effort of living in the alleys as an adult. Had he beaten Death? Had this man come to claim him somehow. The calm he had displayed was still unnerving to Jovik, no one stands there and takes a blow like that. Except an adult from a child. Was that how this man saw Jovik? A child to his power? Ah, but he underestimated the power of the Jackal, a cornered animal is dangerous, always leave him a way out or kill him outright thought Jovik with a wicked grin.

Suddenly, in the midst of his macabre meditations, the Jackal remembered something, that soemthing wasn't right. His body, what had happened to it. Maybe this wasn't some bizarre illusion, some twisted fanatsy brought on by magic or bad alcohol, maybe he was, (gulp) dead. No, he thought, no it can't be I am still here. But he saw his body before, before he had charged Zsath. Where was it he though and the Jackal crawls around the floor, scavanging again, but this time for his own precious body.

 

[Phoenix]

Suddenly, in the midst of his macabre meditations, the Jackal remembered something, that soemthing wasn't right. His body, what had happened to it. Maybe this wasn't some bizarre illusion, some twisted fanatsy brought on by magic or bad alcohol, maybe he was, (gulp) dead. No, he thought, no it can't be I am still here. But he saw his body before, before he had charged Zsath. Where was it he though and the Jackal crawls around the floor, scavanging again, but this time for his own precious body.

[sblock]Will Save (DC 15) +16 - Success
Fort Save (DC 15) +17 - Success[/sblock]

The mist closed tighter around Jovik and a heavy cold chilled him to his...bones? Within precious seconds all that the Jackal could see was the white mist, and the slumped body of himself lying on the floor at his ethereal feet.

His hand tingled a little as it passed through his own corpse and Jovik was surprised to see his corpse's leg shocked at the touch. The draw of his body was addictive to his ethereal form, and before the Jackal could blink he was awake on the floor of his own home once more. His money was gone, of course, but he was alive and in one piece.

 

[Phoenix]

Looks like this is as good as it gets, Ru thinks, and starts signaling the men to take their positions. The twins he sends around behind the group, as they're much more effective when they can sneak up on a body; hopefully they can either kill or disable some of the party before a call to alarm. As Twilit and Daan melt into the alley shadows, the half-ogres take positions on either side of the street, heavy crossbows ready. At Twilit's bird trill signal, they'll both try to take the lead dwarf down at range. Ru stations himself near Scrab, and has his own quarterstaff ready for when the time comes to charge.

The idea is to whittle the group down to a more manageable two dwarves, then disable at least one (either through the twins' drugs or Ru's own unarmed skills). As the grumble of dwarves makes its way closer, Ru's body tenses for what's to come. Gods, he hopes this works.

[sblock]Scrab attack roll (AC hidden) +15 - Hit
Scrab damage roll - 7pts
Wos attack roll (AC hidden) +5 - Critical Miss
Twilit attack roll (AC hidden) +19 - Hit
Twilit damage roll - 17pts
Daan attack roll (AC hidden) +16 - Hit
Daan damage roll - 15pts subdual
Ru attack roll (AC hidden) +17 - Hit
Ru attack roll (AC hidden) +23 - Hit
Ru damage roll - 6pts (13pts total)
Ru damage roll - 4pts (17pts total)[/sblock]

At the sound of a whilstle the two massive crossbows unleashed their bolts. The two half-ogres fired at the lead dwarf, watching in dismay as one of them missed completely, while the second simply opened a heavy wound in the dwarf's arm. The creature looked up into the alley, only to find his death at the end of Ru's whirling staff, collapsing to the ground a battered mess.

The twins stood over the two at the rear, one of them had a knife placed in the back of is neck, while the other was being tied up by Daan. He was putting the bucket on the creature's head and setting the creature up like a pig on a spit for the half-ogres to carry back.

It was all over that fast.

Until the dwarves began to live again.

Gargling blood, the first rose with a knife through its throat, though very slowly and barely keeping its feet. At Ru's feet the second slowly made it on to its hands and feet, trying to stand once more.

 

[jkason]

[sblock]Scrab attack roll (AC hidden) +15 - Hit
Scrab damage roll - 7pts
Wos attack roll (AC hidden) +5 - Critical Miss
Twilit attack roll (AC hidden) +19 - Hit
Twilit damage roll - 17pts
Daan attack roll (AC hidden) +16 - Hit
Daan damage roll - 15pts subdual
Ru attack roll (AC hidden) +17 - Hit
Ru attack roll (AC hidden) +23 - Hit
Ru damage roll - 6pts (13pts total)
Ru damage roll - 4pts (17pts total)[/sblock]

At the sound of a whilstle the two massive crossbows unleashed their bolts. The two half-ogres fired at the lead dwarf, watching in dismay as one of them missed completely, while the second simply opened a heavy wound in the dwarf's arm. The creature looked up into the alley, only to find his death at the end of Ru's whirling staff, collapsing to the ground a battered mess.

The twins stood over the two at the rear, one of them had a knife placed in the back of is neck, while the other was being tied up by Daan. He was putting the bucket on the creature's head and setting the creature up like a pig on a spit for the half-ogres to carry back.

It was all over that fast.

Until the dwarves began to live again.

Gargling blood, the first rose with a knife through its throat, though very slowly and barely keeping its feet. At Ru's feet the second slowly made it on to its hands and feet, trying to stand once more.

Ru's stomach plummeted and his flesh froze at the sight of already-dead dwarves rising. His first thought was to run. They had what they'd come for, after all.

Of course, that would leave the Red Lamp with a new and special couple of invaders thanks to Ru's plot. He rather expected Constantine wouldn't see that as proper protection. And gods knew Scrab and Wos couldn't keep their simple mouths shut, so there was no hoping to just avoid taking credit for the mess.

So, fight, then.

"Lovely. Because gods know the only thing better than flesh eating dwarves is zombie flesh-eating dwarves," Ru growls before spinning his quarterstaff around to pummel his victim's head again, barking orders as he does:

"Scrab, Wos, hack off their damned heads if you have to. Twins, make sure our spitted pig there stays alive. Everybody be ready to run on my call."

OOC:
[sblock]Quarterstaff flurry of blows on the still-prone dwarf at Ru's feet[/sblock]

 

[Fenris]

[sblock]Will Save (DC 15) +16 - Success
Fort Save (DC 15) +17 - Success[/sblock]

The mist closed tighter around Jovik and a heavy cold chilled him to his...bones? Within precious seconds all that the Jackal could see was the white mist, and the slumped body of himself lying on the floor at his ethereal feet.

His hand tingled a little as it passed through his own corpse and Jovik was surprised to see his corpse's leg shocked at the touch. The draw of his body was addictive to his ethereal form, and before the Jackal could blink he was awake on the floor of his own home once more. His money was gone, of course, but he was alive and in one piece.

Jovik lay there trying to make sense of it all. What had just occurred. He still wasn't sure. Was it a dream? Where had the thieve's guild members gone? His head hurt and he was breathing heavily, but other than that he seemed OK. First order of business he thought was to get out of this damn cursed and haunted house! It seems to have turned into an extention fo the Apartments, it was busy enough. Did anyone NOT know about it. He slowly sat up, getting his bearings. The mist was gone, had it ever been there? His money was gone, but he had bought his way out of a fight hadn't he. He remembered Zsath's words and hesitantingly checked if his sword was still with and him and lastly, slowly his hand went to his throat.

 

[hafrogman]

Nikolai's gaze can't help but flick down to his notes, now stained with his own life blood. Ridiculous as it is, he can't help but feel a surge of anger towards the man responsible for ruining his work. He mentaly curses himself for ever starting this job. Soon enough, though, his mind returns to the task at hand, searching for the accursed vial. He levels the wand at his foe one more time, spitting out the command words as if they too could injure, even as his eyes scour the table top.

 

[Phoenix]

Nikolai's gaze can't help but flick down to his notes, now stained with his own life blood. Ridiculous as it is, he can't help but feel a surge of anger towards the man responsible for ruining his work. He mentaly curses himself for ever starting this job. Soon enough, though, his mind returns to the task at hand, searching for the accursed vial. He levels the wand at his foe one more time, spitting out the command words as if they too could injure, even as his eyes scour the table top.

[sblock]Nikolai's Magic Missile Damage - 2pts (11pts total)
Spot Check (DC 7) +8 - Success
Quoth attack roll (AC hidden) +12 - Hit
Quoth damage roll - 4pts (15pts total)
Assassin Reflex Save (DC 15) +18 - Success[/sblock]

Nikolai desperately threw one last bolt of energy at the assassin, watching in dismay as the magic failed to dispatch of him. From above there was a noise though, "Waaaa! Get in innya!" and a smashing sound.

Quoth stood on the top shelf kicking jars down on the assassin from above, missing and making a lot of mess and noise mainly, until he got to the end. Nikolai remembered putting the vial of alchemist's fire up there to make sure that his experiments didn't set it off in his home...

...it smashed on the assassin's head and burst into flames, causing the man to scream and drop to the ground, desperately trying to put the flames out. Nikolai watched the man, stunned for a moment, but a moment was all he needed to realize that between himself and the burning intruder was a small vial of liquid that he had been looking for. It took seconds to pick it up and stuff it desperately into one of his many pockets, but the question was, now what?

 

[Phoenix]

Ru's stomach plummeted and his flesh froze at the sight of already-dead dwarves rising. His first thought was to run. They had what they'd come for, after all.

"Lovely. Because gods know the only thing better than flesh eating dwarves is zombie flesh-eating dwarves," Ru growls before spinning his quarterstaff around to pummel his victim's head again, barking orders as he does:

"Scrab, Wos, hack off their damned heads if you have to. Twins, make sure our spitted pig there stays alive. Everybody be ready to run on my call."

The men were in perfect positions to meet the 'zombies' head on. Smashing them to the ground effortlessly with clubs, staves and blades, the dwarves fell once more to the city street. But laying there in the dirt, mud, and their own bodily juices, the creatures moaned and wailed, it seemed that death would not claim them...